Powers/Abilities: Able to kill with a touch, leaving the mark of a
Black Widow spider on her victims. Being undead, she is immune to most mortal
weapons. Able to transport herself in and out of Hell to kill evil-doers.
Satan says she is immortal, but that might not be the case - he is, after
all, known for being a lier.

History:
"Introducing the strangest, most terrifying character in action picture magazines
- the Black Widow. You've heard of the black widow spider - that evil creature
whose bite spells doom. Now start the adventures of another black widow -
a human tool of Satan whose very touch means death."

(Mystic Comics I #4, 5, 7; U.S.A. Comics #5, All-Select Comics #1,
ga) During a seance for the Wagler family (mother, daughter and
son James, trying to contact the father), professional medium Claire Voyant
was briefly possessed by another personality, changing in appearance and
warning them of a terrible doom that would soon overtake them. Terrified,
Mother Wagler insisted on leaving, and Claire, now back to being herself,
cursed them for their insults as they departed, then wondered what made her
do such a thing. Racing away in their car, the Waglers were blown off the
road; Mother Wagler died immediately, and the daughter died soon after in
her brother's arms. Believing it was Claire's curse which caused all this,
James returned to the medium's home, and gunned her down.

Satan appeared, causing James to flee, gathered up Claire's corpse, and took
her down to Hell. There he lay her on an altar, and revived her as The Black
Widow, a beautiful but terrifying version of herself with skulls for eyes
- the very being who had possessed Claire during the seance! Then he sent
her back to Earth to avenge her own death. She appeared before a grieving
James, the with a single touch she caused him to die swiftly and painfully.
Returning to her master, Satan charged her with bringing evil souls to him,
since he was not content with waiting for them to die a natural death and
perhaps repent their sins. "On the upper world are mortal creatures whose
hearts are blackened with wickedness and corruption. You, the Black Widow,
will bring their souls to me!"

(Mystic Comics #5) The Black Widow targeted Garvey Lang, a notorious
crime boss. She approached him during a costumed ball, danced with him, and
then, when he asked her for a kiss, removed her mask to reveal her undead
visage, just before she killed him with a burning touch to the head.

(Mystic Comics#7) The Black Widow slew two munitions magnates
who were selling arms to both sides in World War II.

(U.S.A Comics #5) The Black Widow took on Murder, Unlimited.

(All-Select Comics #1) No synopses available.

(Marvels #1) The Black Widow was among a number of superhumans who
joined an attack on a Nazi stronghold in Germany, dropping in from the air.
(Presumably she was happy to work with the heroes in attacking the Nazis,
since she would find many souls to damn among the Axis forces).

(The
Twelve #1-12) Black Widow took part in the Allied invasion of occupied
Europe, but alongside other heroes was captured by the Germans and placed
in suspended animation. She has recently been revived.

Comments: Created by George Kapitan and Harry Sahle.

During the Black Widow's origins, it is clear that Satan is behind virtually
everything - when Claire transforms during the seance, it is into her later
Black Widow appearance, and Satan is seen standing behind her; when she curses
the Waglers, the reader can see Satan whispering in her ear and she curses
them "by Satan"); when they crash, Satan's face can be seen blowing them
off the road; when James Wagler decides to come back for revenge, Satan can
be seen telling him to do so; and so on.

Black Widow is due to be revived soon as part of the new Marvel mini-series
"The Twelve" by J. Michael Straczynski.

Thanks to Jess Nevins for allowing me to use information from his excellent
Golden Age Heroes
Directory and his
Guide
to Golden Age Marvel Characters. Thanks also to Richard Boucher &
Darrin Wiltshire @ PR-Publications for permission to use information from
their equally brilliant collection of Golden Age Sites,
PR Publications. Their knowledge
of Golden Age characters far outstrips my own. Thanks also to Copper for
the use of the Micro
Hero used on this page.